Applications for Colby College Class of 2019 Soar

Just one month after reporting a 22-percent increase in Early Decision I applications, Colby’s Office of Admissions reports a substantial increase in total applications for the Class of 2019. This year’s applicant pool is the largest, the most highly qualified, and the most ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse in the College’s 202-year history.

A total of 7,591 applications were submitted for Colby’s Class of 2019—a 47-percent increase over last year’s 5,148.

“Even more gratifying than the number of applicants is the diversity and depth of this applicant pool,” said Steve Saunders, interim vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid. “On nearly every measure—ethnic diversity, academic quality, geographic distribution, and the number of first-generation applicants—this is a remarkable group of students.”

Illustration by Robert P. Hernandez / Office of Communications

Early assessment of applicant data indicates that standardized test scores are up. Geographic diversity rose as well, with a 70-percent increase over last year in applications from students in the western, southern, and midwestern United States.

“The number of applications is strong evidence of just how many students value the type of intensely student-centered education that Colby provides—one that allows students to engage daily with world-class researchers who are deeply committed to undergraduate teaching,” said Saunders, who is also the Charles A. Dana Professor of Music.

The College strategically invested resources in seeking out and engaging the most academically prepared students in the country and hired additional staff to increase the number and efficacy of high school visits. Admissions counselors and recruiting materials emphasized Colby’s intellectual culture and the College’s rigorous and individualized academic experience. The College also continued to focus on the experience of prospective students and their families visiting campus.

News of an additional $1.2 million in financial aid for the Class of 2019 was released this fall. The funds underscore Colby’s commitment to accessibility, enabling the College to admit many more highly qualified students to the Class of 2019 regardless of their families’ financial need. The College meets 100 percent of calculated need for all admitted students and offers grants—not loans—in all financial aid packages.